Signal pistol



A. HUMMEL SIGNAL PISTOL Filed May 4, 1938 July 15, 1941.

2 Sheets-Sheet i July 15, 1941. A. HUMMEL 2,248,997

SIGNAL PISTOL Filed May 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gawe/wbom Patented July 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oFricE SIGNAL PISTOL August Hummel, Bernardsville, N. .1.

Application May 4, 1938, Serial No. 206,031

'8 Claims.

The present invention is directed to signal fire arms and more particularly to hand fire arms of the pistol type primarily for use with large diameter signal cartridges which fire some form of pyrotechnic signal usually arranged to be suspended from a parachute.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved signal pistol.

It is an important specific object of the invention to improve the firing mechanism in such pistols whereby the same is materially simplified and safety provisions secured.

Another object of the invention consists in improved means for holding the cartridge secureli in place in the pistol and for releasing the same at will.

A further object of the invention consists in the arrangement, on a signal pistol, of an adjustable support for the forward end of a long, large-diameter signal cartridge in order to accommodate those of different diameters in the simplest manner.

A major feature of novelty in the invention resides in the arrangement of a trigger mechanism extending along the rear face of the butt or handle of the pistol and operated by pressing the same forward, particularly when used in conjunction with a safety release lever in the position of the normal trigger.

A further feature of the invention resides in the firing mechanism wherein a latch on the trigger directly engages the firing pin to retract the same and automatically releases the firing pin on further or continued movement of the trigger without the use of additional elements.

Other and further objects and features of the invention reside in the novel arrangement and assemblage of parts, in the simplicity of the construction, the elimination of parts and in the concentration of the major weight of the weapon in substantial alignment with the recoil of the cartridge to reduce the shock of this recoil on the hand of the user.

Additional features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specification, where is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of, the invention, with the understanding, however, that the disclosure is in no wise limiting except in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section takenlongitudinallyv through a pistol constructed according to the present invention, showing portions of the handle frame and associated parts in elevation;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse Vertical section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on broken line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 55 of Figure 1; v

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1, showing the safety mechanism; Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sleeve expanding mechanism; V

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 88 of Figure 1 and showing the adjustable cartridge support in one position; I

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing the cartridge support positioned for a larger diameter cartridge;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view partly in longitudinal vertical section of the latch mechanism on the trigger;

Figure 11 is a horizontal section on line H-H of Figure 10; and V Figure 12 is a rear view'of the face'of th trigger on which the latch slides. In the copending application of Josef B. Decker and August Hummel for Fire arm, Serial No. 206,068, filed May 4, 1938, there is disclosed a novel form of pistol for use with pyrotechnic signal cartridges as used for aviation, military and marine signalling. In that application is shown a pistol which departs fromthe conven-' tional in the absence of a rigidor fixed barrel and in which the major weight and substantially all of the firing mechanism is concentrated behind the breech. The present invention constitutes numerous improvements and refinements in the fire arm of that application, which result in simplification, a reduction in the number of parts, an increase in the sturdiness and compactness of the arm, and simpler and smoother operating qualities.

- As pointed out in the previous application, pistols of the present type are intended for use with large diameter signal shells having a uniform base diameter of approximately one and one-half inches and existing in two forms, one of substantially seven inches overall length and of the same diameter throughout, and the second havingthe same base diameter for a distance of about two inches and then provided with an enlarged loading chamber of two inches or more in diameter and with an overall length of about one foot.

In earlier constructions such shells were often fired in a single barrelled pistol, with the barrel length just suficient to accommodate the base or smaller diameter portion of the larger cartridge. The cartridges have an unfianged base, grooved in the cylindrical wall just forward of the bottom so that they can be loaded from the muzzle of the older type pistol and secured in position by locking fingers extending through the barrel and engaging in this groove.

The present fire arm accommodates the same types of shells in an improved manner and is interchangeable for use with those of several different loading chamber diameters while at the same time providing means to support this heavy loading chamber considerably forward of the base portion of the shell.

With the older forms of pistols the firing is accomplished by means of a conventional hammer either exposed or housed to provide the socalled hammerless type of pistol, and most of the firing mechanism is accommodated in the handle, concentrating a great portion of the weight considerably below the line of recoil. In the present pistol, firing is with a straight line movement of the hammer and firing pin, all concentrated in a heavy breech assembly in alignment with the recoil. The handle is relatively light and the arrangement of weights reduces the shock of recoil very materially.

Referring now to the drawingsfor a more complete understanding of the invention, the pistol will be seen to be mounted on a frame l5, conveniently a unitary casting, including the laterally spaced-side rails l6 extending from front to back thereof, the solid forward end I1, and a hollow handle frame portion l8 of suitable configuration for the purpose. Adapted to be mounted on the side rails and above the handle portion is the breech tube preferably cylindrical and of a diameter just slightly greater than the base diameter of the shell to be received in the gun, such as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. forward end of the tube 20 is a breech closure plate 2|, preferably integral therewith and forming the rear stop for the cartridge base. An integral band 22 reinforces the junction of the tube and closure plate and extends forwardly for a shortdis'tance beyond the front face of the closureplate to accommodate and center the rear end of the shell engaging ring or sleeve 23 which is formed of suitable resilient metal, preferably bronze, to the configuration best illustrated in Figures 3 and '7.

This sleeve has an internal bore which isnormally slightly less than the external diameter of the shell base, is provided with a flare 24 at the forward end and with an open rear end which Integral with the,

abuts the breech plate 2|. sleeve 23 are the radial lugs 25 and 26. The lug 26 is of considerable width but not muchir adial length and is received against the inner face of the corresponding side rail l6 of the frame to which it is secured by screws 21. The upper edges ofthe'framerailsare appropriately chamferred as at 28 to receive the corresponding surfaces of the thickened lower portion of the sleeve 23. The second lug 25 on the sleeve is of less circumferential width where it joins the sleeve but of considerably greater radial length and L-shaped in cross section as shown in Figures 3 and 7. The bottom of the L consists of the portion 29 directly be- Near the neath the outer end of the lug 26. The two lugs are separated by the L-shaped cut 30, one portion of which is radial and the other parallel to a tangent to the ring.

The face 3| of the lug portion 29 normally engages or is close to the inner face of the side rail of the frame to which the lug 26 is attached, but is adapted to be wedged away, to the extent permitted by the clearance 32 between the lug 25 and the opposite side rail, by means of the wedge member 33, best shown in Figure 7. The main portion of this wedge member lies against the inner face of the rail Hi just below the portion 29 and has its upper edge provided with the wedge face which engages the chamferred corner 34 of this part 29. An extension 35 of the wedge member projects upwardly and rearwardly from the wedged portion, is perforated at 36, and pivoted on a pin 31 extending through the side rail l6 of the frame. A laterally and rearwardly extending thumb lever 38 is preferably formed in- 'tegral with the wedge part 33 and lies along-side of the frame in a convenient position to be reached by the thumb of the hand holding the gun to depress the same, thereby forcing the wedge against the block 29 and expanding the sleeve 23 so that it may receive the base of the shell. The inner wall of the sleeve near the rear may be provided with one or more short lugs or pins 40 to engage in the shell groove and insure the retention of the shell in the sleeve. The sleeve, however, due to its natural resilience tigli'tly grips the shell and holds it steady, the pins only insuring its fitting against the breech plate 2| so that the percussion cap may be effectively struck by the firing pin.

Forwardly of the sleeve the side plates l6 merge into the forward block I! of the frame which receive the long bearing screw 42 upon which is journalled the shell support member 43, best seen in Figures 8 and 9. This member has a pair of concave faces 44 and 45, each of a radius suitable to accommodate the loading cham ber portion of one size shell. The member 43 canbe rotated to either of the positions shown in Figures 8 and 9 where a stop pin 46 thereon engages the undersurface of the portion I! of the frame to locate one or the other concave surface in the proper positionto accommodate the size shell being used. The member 43 is retained in either adjusted position by means of a latch ball 41 accommodated in a bore 48 in the part 43 and thrust rearwardly by a helical spring 49 into one or the other of the notches 5D in the front face of the frame element IT. The part 43 can well be made of aluminum and be quite light. Obviously it can be constructed to accommodate more than two sizes of shells, by appropriate design, if necessary.

The breech tube 20 is secured to the frame in any appropriate manner. As shown in Figure 4, long. screws 52 extend upwardly through the side rails N3 of the frame and securely hold the tube down to appropriately shaped surfaces on the tops thereof. The tube has a uniform bore from the breech plate 2| to the rear end which is internally threaded as at 53 to receive the closure plug 54 provided with a central recess 55 on its inner face. Within the tube andnear the breech plate 2| is the disc 56 having a close fitin the boreand. positioned by means of a screw 51. It carries a rearwardly extending sleeve 58 centrally drilled to receive the intermediate small diameter rod portion 59 of the combination hammer and firing pin assembly. Secured on the forward end of this rod 59 is the removable head 60 likewise slidable in a bore 6| in the disc 56 and carrying on its forward end the small diameter firing pin 62 adapted to extend through a perforation 63 in the breech plate. A large head 64 is appropriately secured to the rod 59 near its rear end, and the rear face of this head forms an abutment for the hammer spring 65, the opposite end of which is received in the recess 55. An extension 66 of the rod 59 beyond the head 64 positions the spring against lateral movement.

The hammer spring 65 is very heavy and is of such an extended length that it normally positions the firing pin as shown in Figure 1 withthe point just flush with the forward face of the breech block. Its weight and strength impart sufficient momentum to the relatively heavy hammer assembly to insure firing with the hammer weight acting to move the pin further forward than shown in Figure 1 after the spring ceases to act. To maintain the head 64 closely against the forward face of the spring 65 for a purpose to be later described, a light coiled spring 61 surrounds the rod 59 and is compressed between the rear face of the sleeve 58 and the forward shoulder 68 on the head 64. The space between the rear face of the breech plate and the forward face of the disc 56 is vented at 10 so that the piston action of the portion 60 does not slow up the movement of the hammer.

The nature of the service demanded from a signal pistol is quite different from that required from the conventional revolver or automatic pistol, so it has been found expedient to rearrange the trigger mechanism for simplicity and sturdiness and to permit operation by a heavily gloved hand. The trigger is placed along the rear face of the butt to be operable by the main portion of the hand grasping the handle, and the safety lever is placed in the position usually occupied by the trigger and no guard is provided. This arrangement permits an extremely simple form of connection between the trigger and the hammer which is best illustrated in Figures 1, 4, 10, 11, and 12.

The handle forming a portion of the frame of the revolver is adapted to receive the usual nonmetallic handle plates, one of which is seen at in Figure 1, appropriately secured thereto. These plates project rearwardly from the rear face 16 of the handle frame and together with the extension 11 of the bottom member of the handle frame form a pocket or recess in which the trigger lever 10 is adapted to move. This lever is longer than the handle, is of a width to closely fit between the extensions of the handle plates and is pivoted at 19 between the rearward extensions of the rails I6 of the frame. A helical compression spring 80 extends between the trigger and the rear face of the handle frame below the pivot 19 to normally retain the lower portion of the trigger out of its recess and in the position shown in Figure 1. Extending upwardly above the pivot 19 of the trigger and through an appropriate slot 20 in the breech tube is the nose portion ill of the trigger having the substantially vertical rear face 82 on which slides the latch 83 having the sharpened upper edge 84 adapted to project along the front face of the head 64 of the hammer so that movement of the lower portion of the trigger forwardly retracts the hammer against the action of its spring to prepare it for firing. The shoulder 85 below and rearwardly of the edge 84 and other means to be later described limit the upward movement of the latch.

The are of movement of the lower portion of the trigger, as permitted by the deep recess into which it moves, is such that the initially vertical face 82 becomes substantially inclined rearwardly at the end of its movement which serves to throw down the edge 84, as shown by the dotted fragment of the latch in Figure 1, until it releases the the head 64, permitting the hammer to move forward under the impetus of its spring and to project the firing pin into the percussion cap of a shell held by the sleeve 23. The firing pin is returned to the position shown in Figure 1 by the action of the hammer return spring 61, so that it is properly positioned to be again engaged by the latch when the trigger is released.

The trigger latch 83 has a pair of downwardly extending arms 90, the facing sides of which slope as shown at 9| in Figure 11 to accommodate the guide 92 secured to the nose 8| by the screw 93, the forward end of which passes through the nose and engages the rear edge 94 of the handle portion and limits the forward movement of the nose. The latch is limited in its upward movement on the trigger by means of the pin 95 carried by one of the arms and travelling in the groove 96 in the face 82 of the nose of the trigger. A helical compression spring 91 extends between the upper face of the guide 92 and the lower surface of the latch, where it is cut away to provide the arms 90, to keep the latch in an upward position and return it to that position after it has moved forward beneath the head 64 subsequent to the firing operation. The curved forward face 98 just below the edge 84 permits of this return movement without binding.

The construction of the trigger just described produces an extremely simple firing arrangement and one that lends itself readily to the use of a safety lever which must be pressed prior to operating the trigger and which when not pressed serves to lock the trigger against the firing movement. The lever for this purpose is shown at I00, in the normal position of a trig er, as partially housed in a recess IOI in the forward face of the handle frame and pivoted at I02 between the frame rails extending forwardly from the handle. Its forward movement is limited by the engagement of the nose I03 thereon with the pin I04.

Intermediate the lever I00 and the trigger 18 is the locking member I05 comprising a bell crank having the long arm I06 travelling across the face of the frame, in an appropriate recess 15' in the handle plate 15 as seen in Figure 5. It carries at its end the pin I01 extending transversely of the frame and normally engaging between the rear face of the handle frame and the forward face I08 of the trigger as shown in Figures 1 and 6, effectively preventing movement of the trigger. The bell crank is pivoted at I09 so that the pin I01 may swing downwardly in an arc and be received in the pocket II 0 for the purpose in the rear face of the handle frame where it is completely out of the way and permits the trigger to be pressed forward.

The short arm II2 of the bell crank likewise carries a transverse pin II3 which is engaged by the rear face of the safety lever in such a manner that pressure on the lever depresses the rear portion of the bell crank and carries the pin I01 into inoperative position in the pocket. A wire spring has several turns journalled on the pin I I5 extending from the face of the handle frame and has the end H6 bent at right angles and received in a hole in this handle. The other end H! of the spring bears against the rear face of the short arm of the bell crank maintaining the crank in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 1 until it is forced into the dotted line position by action of the safety lever.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a signal pistol, in combination, a frame, a cartridge base engaging sleeve split longitudinally, a pair of radial lugs secured to said sleeve one at each side of the split, one of said lugs being secured to said frame, a wedge member adapted for movement in a vertical plane to engage the other lug to expand the sleeve and a thumb lever for actuating said member.

2. In a signal pistol, in combination, a frame, a cartridge base engaging sleeve, said sleeve having a longitudinal split, means securing one portion adjacent said split to said frame, a Wedge carried by said frame and movable in a vertical plane to engage and expand said sleeve substan tially circumferentially, and a lever on said wedge to be manually actuated.

3. In a signal pistol, in combination, a frame comprising spaced side rails, a cartridge base engaging sleeve above said rails, said sleeve being provided with two spaced longitudinally disposed, external, radial lugs, said sleeve being split between said lugs, one of said lugs being secured to one of said frame rails, a wedge member pivoted; to said frame and adapted to engage said other lug to expand said sleeve.

4. In a signal pistol, in combination, a frame comprising spaced side rails, a cartridge base engaging sleeve above said rails, said sleeve being provided with two spaced longitudinally disposed, external, radial lugs, said sleeve being split between said lugs, one of said lugs being secured to the inside face of one of said frame rails, a wedge pivoted to said rail and adapted to engage the other lug to expand the sleeve, the other rail serving to limit movement of the other lug.

5. In a signal pistol, in combination, a frame comprising spaced side rails, a cartridge base engaging sleeve above said rails, said sleeve bein provided with two spaced longitudinally disposed, external, radial lugs, said sleeve being split between said lugs, one of said lugs being shorter and secured to the inner face of one of said rails, the second lug having a portion extending beneath the first into proximity to said rail, a wedge plate pivoted to said rail and adapted to be moved between it and said portion, and a thumb lever secured to said wedge plate and passing out beneath said rail for manual operation.

6. In a pistol for use with two diameter signal cartridges, in combination, a frame, a sleeve on the upper side of said frame intermediate the ends thereof for engaging the small diameter base of a cartridge, and an adjustable open support for the large diameter of said cartridge, said support being mounted at the forward end of said frame, for use with cartridges of various large diameters.

7. In a pistol for use with two diameter signal cartridges, in combination, a frame, a sleeve on said frame for engaging the small diameter base of a cartridge, and an open support for the large diameter of a cartridge, said support being mounted at the forward end of said frame, means pivoting said support for limited rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of the cartridge, said support having surfaces thereon at different distances from its axis of rotation, whereby it may be adjusted to accommodate cartridges with different large diameters.

8. In a pistol for use with two diameter signal cartridges, in combination, a frame, a sleeve thereon for engaging the small diameter base of a cartridge with the large diameter thereof overhanging the forward end of the frame, a support block, a pivot for said block in the forward end' of the frame parallel to the cartridge axis, concave support surfaces on said block at different distances from its pivot, and latch mechanism to hold said block adjusted with any such surface in position to support the large diameter portion of a cartridge gripped by said sleeve.

AUGUST HUMMEL. 

